Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-03-22
For the Spirit of Jefferson.I
The Right to Kick.

the right the twelve Democratic men,
bers of the Legislature chose to ex-
ercise in refusing to go into caucus,
has been much discussed by speech
and press, and it is not little sur
prising that there are many Intelligent
persons in our county who are COM
hitting themselves to the mischievous
doctrine, that IS representatives Of a
party are bound to follo,o party Gus
IONS under all circumstances" In
the outset, let me say that the writer
of this is caucus Democrat, and I'M
der the circumstances would have
supported Mr.. Camden had he been
member OF the legislature; yet he
fully comedies to Messrs. Lucas,
Chew and the remainder of the twelves
the entire right, and under proper
consideration the clear duty not to do
so, and Still be as true Democrats as
those who do. If this doctrine of
blindl3 following party customs be
true,,s6ow then are abuses of the party
to be corrected in the party. If the
twelve were satisfied that Mr.. Cam
den had secured a majority in the
party caucus; that he had obtained
it through dishonest or dishonorable
means; that his purpose was to OH
tain bis election to the U. S. Senate
for his individual profit more than the
public good, that the aggregation of
wealth in so important body as the
Senate of the United States would he
jeopardizing the interest of the masses
to the meFt:ies of the monopolist:
that Mr.. Camdcn's mental training
and ability to grasp the great fnnda-
mental principles Of government I'M
fitted him ms proper representa-
tive,7-I say, If they were satisfied
that these and other things were
truths, and that this majority was OH
tanned by fragrant violations of right
and virtue, what were they to do?-
Were they under such circumstances
bound to 90 into caucus, knowing the
result and thereby not only sanction
tioning hut aiding a great wrong?
Then how were they to rectify these
evils in the party in any other way
than the one pursued? They had
clearly the right and it was their
bounden duty. to do nothing to stul-
lily their convictions. For my own
part, l do not believe all these charges
against Mr.. Camden, and would have
no fear of him for another six years,
but that is not the question: if these
gentlemen were so convinced, they
acted properly. Would any citizen
of this county feel bound to support
candidates set up Ivy such people and
such methods as were developed Ivy
the letter of Mr.. Cowan. of Baltimore?
Scores of persons say "thcre is not
one fact proven whereby the knowl-
edge of the whereabouts of Miss Mad
is0n and Cluvcrius, one with the
other, was certainly shown, yet twelve
men who heard the testimony agreed
that not only was this known. hut that
beyond reasonable doubt Miss Mad
ison was murdered by Cluverlus-
these twelve jurymen heard the ev-
idence, and upon their oaths sent this
young man to his death. II they
were not honest, why not! Let us
bring this matter hy an hypothesis.
pirenrcr "lirrne. tf3juprose our EsssSeSS0rs
or Sheriff, who by their official duties
are brought in contact with every
voter in the county, should say to
some of them if you will support me
ut the primary 1 will not assess vonr
property more than half, or if you
will support me at the district meet
ms l will indulge YOU in the payment
Of your taxes; knowing these things
beforehand, what are you to do? Go
into the primary and thus pledge
yourself to fraud. simply because
primaries are q party custom? If
there was an unhnly alliance be-
tween the Governor and any member
of the twelve which think is very
unlikely, let it he shown. and have the
guilty party stamped by the party
with the infamy he deserves. but to
say that all these twelve gentlemen
were conspiring to further the amhi
ton of any particular individual is
absurd and ridiculous. Better by far
that Mr.. Camden he unrighteouSly
deprived of his seat in the Senate.
than for the people to fail to hold up
the hands of their representatives
when they fad them bravely and hon
estly striving to defend their rights
and liberty, though the danger he hut
a shadow.